Strengthening Family Resilience

Traditional family systems theory which contributes to the development of various family therapy schools is largely derived from clinical observations of families with psychitric patients. Many family researchers were eagerly looking for what causes individual pathology within families. They ignored the bright sides. Even when facing major crisis, each family has its own strengths to help itself go back on track. Sometimes that resilient power may make the family become even healthier and stronger than before. Dr. Froma Walsh outlines the qualities that help families sustain the storming weather, and suggest a new approach of clinical practice. The book has three parts. Part I is an overview providing theoretical foundations for this approach. It also dicusses the family diversity issues in this changing society. Part II contains four chapters. First three chapters address the three key family processes in resilience, which are Belief Systems, Organizational Processes, and Communication Processes. The remaining chapter offers an integrative framework for family assessment. Part III explores family resilience through crisis and challenge. Death and loss and chronic illness are chosen for illustrating how family develops resilience through adversity or traumatic experiences. The author then dicusses how to treat vulnerable multi-crisis families through strength-based and family-centered services. The book closes with the chapter on reconnection and reconciliation. Combining with family-of-origin work and forgiveness promotion, the author offers ways to "mend the broken hearts." I found this book easy to read, and the organization is very clear. It is a excellent basic text for understanding fundamantal family system dynamics. Is is also very useful for counselors and therapists to alter the views to emphasize more on the strengths of individuals and families, rather than on the deficits and weakness.